By Toby Sterling LEUVEN, Belgium, March 18 (Reuters) - Belgian chip research lab imec said on Wednesday it has secured an ASML $400-million High NA EUV lithography machine--one of fewer than a dozen
Belgium's imec secures rare ASML High NA EUV tool to drive next-generation chips
Imec's Acquisition of ASML High NA EUV Lithography Machine
By Toby Sterling
Imec's Strategic Move in Chipmaking
LEUVEN, Belgium, March 18 (Reuters) - Belgian chip research lab imec said on Wednesday it has secured an ASML $400-million High NA EUV lithography machine--one of fewer than a dozen worldwide--cementing its role in preparing next-generation chipmaking tools for industry use.
ASML customers, including Intel and SK Hynix, are preparing to use High NA tools--which promise much smaller chip circuitry--to make new AI logic and high bandwidth memory chips as early as 2027.
Imec's Collaborative Model
imec, which helped ASML develop EUV technology, is buying the tool under its business model of giving companies and researchers shared access to cutting-edge chipmaking tools in a factory-like setting.
Industry Partnerships
Due to its many bilateral deals with chip equipment makers including ASML, Applied Materials, LAM, KLA and Tokyo Electron, imec has become the place where chip firms test, develop and ensure their next-generation tools work together.
The NanoIC Pilot Line and European Semiconductor Strategy
CENTERPIECE OF IMECI'S NANOIC PILOT LINE
The High NA tool will be the centerpiece of imec's 2.5- billion-euro NanoIC pilot line, which includes 1.4 billion euros of public funding, including from the EU Chips Act.
Reinforcing Europe's Semiconductor Leadership
Obtaining the ASML machine for the line "reinforces Europe's position at the heart of the global semiconductor value chain," Imec CEO Luc Van den hove said at a press conference. "It is the core of Europe's strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty."
About ASML's High NA EUV Technology
ASML is the sole maker of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools, which "print" circuitry onto chips.
Technological Advancements
High NA refers to the new machine's larger numerical aperture--similar to a camera--which enables creation of chip features that are up to 66% smaller, making them faster and more energy efficient.
Commercial Readiness
ASML told Reuters in February that High NA tools are ready for use in commercial production after years of testing.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
